PESHAWAR, Feb 12: The NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Monday directed the Frontier Highway Authority to immediately start construction and repair of the roads that have been declared provincial highways.

Speaking at the first meeting of the council of the FHA at Governor’s House, he said funds had been given to the authority and important projects could be initiated.

The meeting discussed reactivation of the authority, removal of obstacles in the affairs, financial and administrative power, preparation of budget and planning and other issues.

The meeting declared that the roads that pass through more than one district of the province would be provincial highways. Those highways include, Peshawar, Charsadda,  Mardan, Topi, Haripur Road;  Nowshera-Chakdara road, Chitral-Shandur road, Chakdara-Mingora road, Khwazakhela-Besham road, Khushal Garh-Kohat Thall Road and Indus Right Bank Road.

The governor said that with the establishment of the provincial highway authority, the construction and repair of big roads would be organized. He said the authority would work as an autonomous body.

He directed the authority to immediately start two or three big projects and said funds were available.  

He ordered the removal of obstacles in completion of Naguman-Charsadda road.

He, however, said the authority should undertake only the feasible projects.

The governor said 90 per cent construction on most of the provincial highways was complete and they needed to be maintained. He made it clear that maintenance of small roads was the responsibility of the district governments and funds for that purpose had been given to the district governments.

The governor said some highways were badly damaged.  

He disagreed with the cost estimate of some projects and ordered that the cost should be reduced without affecting the quality of work.

He said the budget of the authority should be prepared on the basis of resources that were likely to be accumulated.

The council reviewed the possibility of constructing a road for Chitral that could be used in all seasons.   

The meeting empowered the FHA for grant of permission for setting up  of filling and CNG stations.  

The governor said arrangements should be made for grant of NOC for the stations in the far flung districts.

Provincial ministers Shamsul Mulk and  Abbas Khan, provincial secretaries, FHA managing director and members of the council attended  the meeting.